Thanksgiving

A week ago I was feeling at the end of my rope. So much stress, so uncertain about how a lot of situations could possibly come to a positive resolution. It was Sunday. I'd been struggling all weekend with my emotions. And the sermon was just what I needed to hear. Thanking God. I had become so bogged down in the problems that I was not longer being thankful for the abundance I already have and the provision that was sure to come.

I think the thing that was lurking in my mind the most was if God was punishing me. Since becoming a parent almost three years ago I have realized so  many new dynamics and one of those is natural consequences. I mean I've taught parents about natural consequences but you don't really realize how many they are and how effective they are until you start using them. So I couldn't help but wonder if the stress, the challenges, the things that kept falling apart were natural consequences for something I had messed up. Some kind of choice I had made and now He was letting me suffer the results of choices. It took me several days to finally ask God if that was the case. It was during the service on Sunday morning. And the answer was no, I was being tested, He didn't say much beyond that but then Cade began to preach. And it was obvious. Could I praise him no matter what? Could I trust him and believe he is good in the midst of all things? So then and there I started thanking him for all the positive that was going on. Soon enough my perspective was changing.

And within hours the resolutions started pouring in. Not that this is some kind of recipe for getting answers but the change in my spiritual and emotional state was answer enough. And I just keep thanking Him because though things seem hard in spots right now I am learning so many good lessons. I am having to be self-disciplined. There is so much goodness coming out of the challenges. But without a thankful heart I become an emotional stressed out mess. Which is a dreadful way to live. And it's not how He wants us to live. He wants us to have joy in all circumstances and he tells us how by praising him no matter what is going on in the world.